Electric signal for automobiles.



H. alum-Am ELECTRIC SIGNAL FR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MY 2| |914.

'Patented Juy 6, 1915i a//ey o/cm, 'I /f' gf/,r y

" Toall whomz't mag/concern. i

.'Be it known that I, HALLEY C. DOLAN, ,a citizen of 'the'United States of America, residing at'Detroit, in thek county of vWayne and State'of Michigan, have invented certain new andl usefulImprovementsin Electric: Signals forvAutomobiles, of which the following ris a speciication, 'reference being had therein to the'accompanying drawings. f rIfhis invention relates to an electric signal forfautomobiles, and more particularly to that ltypedesigned for use upon the rear end of' an automobile or similar` vehicle to. prevent'fcollisions incurred by an automobile colliding.v with "a: preceding 'machine that has suddenly stopped or turned to one side.

The-primary object of my invention is to provide a novel signal of the above type that may belemployed in the day or at night to indicate that an automobile is about'to stop oris to'turn-to the right o-r left, the signal embodying stationary illuminated means for indicating direction at night; movable means for indicating direction during the day, and movable means for indicating at night or day that a vehicle is about to stop. yThe vmeans enumerated above are all electrically actuated from a suitable source of energy controlled by the chauffeur of the machine, direct or through the medium of a`clutch or brake lever.

With the above and other objects in View the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, but

it is to be understood that the structural elements illustrated are susceptible to such changes, as in the size, shape and manner of assemblage, as fall within the scope al" the claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signal partly broken away and partly in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical seo tional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the signal illustrating an electro-magnet forming part the same, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of ano-ther portion of the signal, illustrating the actuating means of one of the indicator arms.

The signal comprises a rectangular casing having a front wall 1, side walls V2 and 3, a bottom plate 4, a top plate 5, av rear wall 6,

' Specfcationof Letters Patent.

-' BAILEY CLDOLAN, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN'.

ELECTRIC sIGNAL FoaAUToMoBILEs.

and a vertical transverse partition 7. These elements can be stamped and pressed from sheet metal or made, of'a ySuitable ,material that can be finished to harmonize with the vehicle in connection with which it is used. These elements are furthermore assembled p A Patented July G3, 1915.

Application filed May 2, 1914. Serial No. 835,831.

to form a rigid and durable structure capable Vof withstanding the vibrations to 'which it is subjected when a vehicle is in action.

The front wall 1, at the upper end thereof, has openings 8 shaped to provide characters forming the word Stop. Below these openings the front wall 1 has transverse openings 9 and 10v` one above the other, shaped to represent arrows pointing to the right'v and left. The front wall 1. at the lower end thereof has an opening 11 provided with a lens or bulls eye 12.

The inner side of the front wall 1'abov'e each of the openings 8. 9 and 10 has bear` ings 13 for pintles 11 ot shutters 15, 16 and 17 associated with the openings 8. 9 and 1.0."4

respectively, said shutters normally closing" the openings and swinging inwardly to per#` mit of rays of light being emitted trom'theH4 Each pintle "111' source of electric-al energy 24 and a switch The top plate 5 is provided with a pivotedj. es'

member 26 upon which is printed or'other wise marked the word Stop this meinber being used during the day time. @ne end of, the member is pivotally connectedto a linli 27 and the opposite end loosely mounted on the crank 18 of the shutter 15, whereby, when the electro-magnet 23 energized and the armature lever 20 engaging said crank shifted. both said shutter and said member will be actuated.

The inner sides ofthe walls 2 and 3 are provided with bearings 28 and pivotally connected to said bearings are the lower ends of arrow/'shaped indicating arms 29 adapted to-be swung outwardly through slots 30 provided therefor in the walls 2 and 3, to indicate right or left direction of movement. The lower pivoted ends of the arms 29 have off-set portions 31 provided with v The side walls 2 and curved slots 32 and extending into said slots are inwardly projecting cranks or pins' 33 rigidly connected-to the inner sides of the` shutters 16 and 17. It is therefore apparentthat when either of the shutters is actuated, one of the indicating varms is swung outwardly at aside of the" casing and said arms correspond in the day time to the function of the arrow shaped openings 9 and 10, at night. v

The partition 7 of the casing has openings providing clearance for the operating mechanism of the shutters and indicating arms and said partition serves as a reflector for rays `of light emitted by an incandescent llamp 34 mounted upon the bottom plate 4 `ple of one manner of supporting the signal.

In some instances, the operation of the signal can be manually controlled, but from the foregoing it'will'be 'observed that the elements indicating" Stop can be easily operated by the clutch or throttle of a velncle. o

What I claim is:

1. In a signal for vehicles, a casing having the wall thereof providedwith an opening, a shutter hinged to the inner side of the fron-t wall of said casing at the upper edge of the opening thereof, a crank for opening said shutter, an electrically operated armature lever engaging said crank and adapted to open said shutter, an indicating arm pivotallyv mounted in said casing and adapted to swing through a side wall thereof, and a pin on saiid shutter extending into the inner end of said indicating arm whereby 'said shutter and arm can be actuated in jsynchronism.

2.l In a signal for vehicles, a casing hav-- ingthe front wall thereof. provided with? arrow shaped openings and openings representing the characters of the Word Stop, shutters hinged in said casing to normally close the openings thereof, a crank at the hinge of each shutter, an electrically operated 4 armature. lever engaging each crank and adapted` to open the shutter thereof,` a member on thetop of said casing adapted to be operated simultaneously with the actuation of the shutter of the stop opening of said casing, arrow shaped arms in said casing and adapted to swing through side walls thereof, and pins on some of said shutters extending into the ends ofsaid arms whereby said shutters and arms can be actuated in synchronism.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HALLEY C. DOLAN.

Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, C. R. STICKNEY. 

